Judge Josephine Victoria Finn of Monticello takes questions from lawmakers; she was elected to the Board of Regents on Tuesday. (Will Waldron, Times Union)

Even though Senate Republicans ended their traditional boycott of Tuesday’s Board of Regents vote, incumbents Wade Norwood, James Cottrell and Christine Cea were handily re-elected Tuesday to the panel that oversees the state education system.

But in a twist, the fourth slot — open due to the retirement of Regent James Jackson of Colonie — was taken by a relative newcomer to the education field: Sullivan County Lawyer Josephine Victoria Finn, who edged out former Albany school administrator Maxine Fantroy-Ford and Columbia County educator Helen Regina Rose, who had the backing of an organization fighting much of the Common Core rollout.

Tuesday’s vote was unusual largely due to participation of Senate Republicans and Democrats, many who voted “no” to express their unhappiness by the way in which the Regents are chosen — that is, by an at-large vote in the Legislature, which means the 99-member Assembly Democratic conference controls the process.

“I’m voting ‘no’ on both candidates,” GOP Senator John DeFrancisco said at one point, underscoring that tactic.

Norwood gathered 118 votes while Cottrell had 120. Cea garnered 116.

Finn, who has worked as a lawyer, town justice and community college instructo, has several spiritually-oriented web ventures, won the open seat by a comfortable margin of 121 over 10 for Fantroy-Ford and 20 for Rose.

“A couple of colleagues I met with said they were impressed with her,” noted Democratic Sen. Daniel Squadron, who like most lawmakers wasn’t at Monday’s interview with Finn.

Finn was a late entry who was allowed to submit her application well past the Jan. 31 deadline. Her bid came amid reports that lawmakers weren’t happy with the other choices.

“Bringing in candidates at the last minute underscores why we need to reform the process,” said GOP Assemblyman Ed Ra.

All together now, (sung to your favorite hootenanny tune like “Johnny rowed our boat ashore”)
.
“Lets not rock the boat, no, lets not rock the boat!”
“All we have to do is blame the teachers, no, lets not be the goat!”
“All we have to do is blame the parents, no, lets not rock the boat!
“All we have to do is blame the taxpayers, no, lets not be the goat”
“Lets stick together, yo, one and all, no, lets not rock this boat!!!!
.
Followed by a rendition of that old gospel favorite…..”We Shall Overcome” :)

A sham? What are you babbling about? The Assembly and Senate come together and decide who is going to be on the Board of Regents by voting. this is a sham how. It is a most democratic process that eliminates high political intrigue like it is in California. So, don’t let the door hit you on the way out of New York State. According to so many Albany is a bastion of anything but the best when once the people speak forth (when they do) Albany listens. We are not other states, we contain the largest school system in the nation, NYC is the world capitol and financial center for the USA. But hey easy answers and targets for the largesse. I was pleased to see the outcome. Learning is our business not politics.

@Real Educator- “NYC is the world capitol and financial center for the USA.” Which is irrelevant to who is on the board, but sure is relevant to how they suck the tax money out of upstate as well as giving Wall Street a pass on paying taxes.

Real Ed — a sham, as they have demonstrated their incompetence by the roll out and implementation of the CC. What are you babbling about? Politics won here. Not the schools. Not the kids. Not the taxpayers. Cowards caved and rewarded incompetence. What are you babbling about?

Who’s would have thought any differently with the Democrats in-charge. Remember, they are the ones who instituted and touted Common Core. By not reelecting those standing members of the Board of Regents, they would have readily admitted to this bureaucratic blunder in the same tradition as Obamacare. The vote was nothing more than CYA. You what that means.

I think they should not only get rid of Finn, but also Commissioner King since it has been proven that people like King and Finn are completely incompetent, as evidenced by past history involving Patterson, Boyland, and others like them.

@Real Educator: You are kidding, right? You can’t see how bringing in Finn is a sham? Really? Why did everyone else have to have resumes in by Jan 31st…except her? She has literally ZERO educational experience. Sorry, but teaching a few comm college classes does not count as the experience needed for such a high level position. And that’s part of this “sham” called the Board of Regents. Most of them have little to no REAL educational experience. Finn “beat out” two lifelong educators. And why? How was she even remotely more qualified? She admitted to legislators that she “wasn’t steeped in details of the Common Core controversy.” Really? Admitted that? If you don’t see the sham in this vote and the process then you are part of the problem. The vote violated the very rules setup for the election process.

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